Moisture trapped beneath a developing ridge of upper high pressure combined with strong daytime heating to fuel the development of numerous thunderstorms. Although wind shear was minimal, very strong instability led to several of these storms becoming strong while growing into multicellular clusters and lines. Some of these storms produced large hail, high winds and even one very brief EF0 tornado. The large coverage of these slow-moving storms proved very beneficial to South Plains residents and farmers as a widespread rain event had not occurred since early spring.

Event Narrative

A brief tornado located about two miles southwest of Crosbyton was photographed by a storm chaser. NWS radar indicated a short-lived, low-level mesocyclone that developed along the northwest edge of an apparent surging gust front. The increased cyclonic shear to the left of the gust front's motion was likely stretched vertically and produced the brief EF0 tornado. No damage survey was conducted as the tornado was only in progress for less than one minute over open land.